All eyes will be on Brad Marchand as the Bruins try to keep their season alive once again on Friday night.
After missing the last two games following a sucker punch from Panthers forward Sam Bennett, Marchand will slot back into Boston’s lineup for Game 6 against the Panthers. Puck drop at TD Garden is set for 7 p.m.
“This is what we play for,” Marchand, who skated without any restrictions during Thursday’s practice, said of Boston’s upcoming bout with Florida. “This is why we started playing hockey and we want to live our dreams — it’s to try to win a Cup ... We’re fighting for our lives.
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Marchand and Swayman first out chute for warmup. 63BM a full go.
— Kevin Paul Dupont (@GlobeKPD) May 17, 2024
“Guys are excited about that. There’s no ‘poor me’ attitude in this room. It’s a great opportunity and whether it goes our way or not, we’re gonna go in and leave everything we have on the ice and enjoy the moment.”
Marchand’s return should further spur a Bruins team looking to overcome a 3-1 series deficit for the first time in franchise history. Boston is 0-25 in best-of-seven series after falling into a 3-1 hole.
“He’s our leader, obviously,” said Jake DeBrusk. “I think that it just brings a vocal guy back on the bench. Obviously, his skill set speaks for itself.
“I think it’s one of those things where he does a lot of things differently for the team, when it comes to special teams and even five-and-five, so to add back a really quality player like that and a leader obviously within our team, I think only helps your group.”
The Bruins will already have their hands full against a Panthers team looking to snuff out any momentum Boston snatched following Tuesday’s Game 5 win down in Sunrise. But Boston will also have to overcome its struggles on home ice.
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Over the last two postseasons, the Bruins have only won three games at TD Garden. The Panthers over that same stretch? Five wins on Causeway Street.
“I think it starts with a good start,” said DeBrusk. “I think that the biggest thing is getting the crowd into it. Getting the building going. Obviously playing on the road, you feel the other team’s crowd and things of that nature and at home, you try to use yours. So I think a good start obviously helps with that, it gives them something to cheer about too. I don’t think we think of it as a negative.”
Beyond their woes at TD Garden, the Bruins need their power play to right the ship in Game 6 against Sergei Bobrovsky. Boston is just 1-for-14 on the man advantage in this series, including a momentum-sapping 0-for-3 performance on Tuesday night.
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: TD Garden, Boston
TV, radio: TNT, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line: Florida -145. O/U: 5.5.
PANTHERS
Season record: 59-27-6. vs. spread: 45-47. Over/under: 35-53, 4 pushes
Last 10 games: 7-3-0. vs. spread: 4-6. Over/under: 6-4
BRUINS
Season record: 53-26-15. vs. spread: 45-49. Over/under: 41-51, 2 pushes
Last 10 games: 5-5-0. vs. spread: 5-5. Over/under: 3-6, 1 push
TEAM STATISTICS
Goals scored: Florida 265, Boston 263
Goals allowed: Florida 198, Boston 221
Power play: Florida 23.5%, Boston 22.2%
Penalty minutes: Florida 1116, Boston 780
Penalty kill: Florida 82.5%, Boston 82.5%
Faceoffs won: Florida 51.3%, Boston 49.5%
Stat of the day: Jeremy Swayman’s postseason save percentage of .933 is second-highest and top amongst goaltenders remaining in the playoffs.
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Notes: Could the Bruins pull off the 3-1 comeback that Florida made against them in the first round a year ago? There certainly is no lack of confidence in the locker room. “I think we’re only getting better,” defenseman Charlie McAvoy said. “We have that belief and certainly the confidence in our group, in each other and in ourselves to do the job.” ... According to Bruins coach Jim Montgomery, captain Brad Marchand still has “boxes to check” in his recovery from an upper-body injury that sidelined him for the past two games. He remains day-to-day. ... Though Montgomery also believes that his team has gotten better throughout the series, the impact of a Marchand return would be immeasurable. “He’s our leader, he’s our captain, he’s our heart and soul,” Montgomery said. “How can you put a number on that?” ... Boston goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who has started 11 of 12 playoff games, has a 0.98 GAA in two elimination game wins during this run. ... The Panthers are hoping that they can bounce back from a mere bump in the road on Tuesday after having played long stretches of dominant hockey up to this point. “You play a seven-game series for a reason,” Florida center Sam Reinhart said. “It’s not always going to go your way. You try to learn from it. There’s some things we can do a little bit better. We’re going to recover and we’re going to come back.”
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Conor Ryan can be reached at conor.ryan@globe.com.